DUNKIN'
DONUTS OPENS FIRST "GREEN" STORE
The world's favorite coffee and baked
goods chain opens first LEED certified restaurant in
Florida, prototype for future green stores
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Dunkin' Donuts, America's all-day,
everyday stop for coffee and baked goods, is celebrating
the grand opening of its first "green" store
today. The St. Petersburg, Florida restaurant is Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified and
includes other "green" initiatives such as
innovative recycling programs like worm casting and food
donations to the local food bank. Dunkin' Donuts President & Chief
Brand Officer Will Kussell will join St. Petersburg Mayor
Rick Baker, the United States Green Business Council
(USGBC), and the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce to
celebrate the store opening by planting a tree on-site,
located at the corner of 4th Street North and 76th Avenue
North.
"At Dunkin' Donuts we are committed to growing
our business in a way that is both achievable and sustainable
for our company, our franchisees, the communities we
proudly serve, and the environment, said Kussell. "With
the opening of our first LEED certified store in St.
Petersburg we look forward not only to playing an important
role in the daily lives of the people who live and work
here, but also applying what we learn in this store to
Dunkin' Donuts overall, as we continue to evolve the
brand."
LEED certification is widely recognized as the standard
for "green" construction in the United States.
The LEED rating system sets forth specific criteria that
constitute a "green" building and LEED certification
provides third-party verification that the criteria have
been met. The United States Green Building Council created
the LEED Green Building Rating System, a voluntary point-based
rating system used to certify buildings as "green."
The St. Petersburg LEED certified store is a first for
Dunkin' Donuts, which broke ground in May 2008, and will
serve as a prototype for future green construction projects
as well as enhance future building models. The St. Petersburg
restaurant is built in the Dunkin' Donuts flagship model
design and features numerous LEED enhancements, including:
energy-efficient insulated concrete foam walls to reduce
air conditioning usage by approximately 40%, energy-efficient
lighting, including motion sensors for restrooms and
offices, water-efficient plumbing fixtures, low-flush
toilets, and the usage of well water rather than potable
water for all irrigation.
In addition to these significant LEED enhancements,
customers will notice other "green" features
at the St. Petersburg location including:
- Recycling - On-site Earthworm Casting facility,
a collaboration between Dunkin' Donuts and local
company Mother's Organics (www.mothersorganics.com).
The solar powered tank houses 80 lbs. of small red
earthworms that will eat the waste produced by the
store, such as coffee grounds and paper products. The
worms' waste will then be converted into fertilizer
for local farms and gardens.
- Reusable Mug Program -
Customers are encouraged to bring their own mug, and
will receive a discount toward the purchase of a beverage.
- Paper
Hot Cups - Hot drinks are served in paper cups made
from renewable resources.
- Food Donation - Leftover
baked goods are donated to America's Second Harvest,
a local food bank.
- Green Cleaning - Cleaning products
meet LEED requirements and California Air Resources
Board (CARB) standards, better for the environment
and customers.
"We are proud to have Dunkin' Donuts' first ever
LEED certified store in St. Petersburg," said St.
Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker. "We have the first
city in Florida to be designated a Green City, and
I salute Dunkin' Donuts for embracing our efforts to
create a sustainable future for our families."
The opening of the first LEED store is part of Dunkin'
Brands' ongoing and increasing commitment to its Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) platform, which covers four
main pillars: Philanthropic, Social, Economic, and Environmental
-- each pillar is associated with specific goals, including
serving those who serve in our communities, embracing
diversity and inclusion, sustainable development of products
and materials, and volunteerism. Today's store opening
is the latest example of Dunkin' Brands' community commitment
come to life.
Founded in 1950, Dunkin' Donuts is America's favorite
everyday, all-day stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin'
Donuts is the #1 retailer of hot and iced regular coffee-by-the-cup
in America, and the largest coffee and baked goods chain
in the world. Dunkin' Donuts has earned the #1 ranking
for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand
Keys for two years running. The company has more than
7,900 restaurants in 30 countries worldwide. In 2007,
Dunkin' Donuts' global system-wide sales were $5.3 billion.
Based in Canton, Massachusetts, Dunkin' Donuts is a subsidiary
of Dunkin' Brands, Inc. For more information, visit www.dunkinbrands.com/pressroom/LEED.html.
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About Dunkin' Donuts
Founded in 1950, Dunkin' Donuts is America's favorite
everyday, all-day stop for coffee and baked goods.
Dunkin' Donuts is the #1 retailer of hot and iced regular
coffee-by-the-cup in America, and the largest coffee
and baked goods chain in the world. Dunkin' Donuts
has earned the #1 ranking for customer loyalty in the
coffee category by Brand Keys for two years running.
The company has more than 7,900 restaurants in 30 countries
worldwide. In 2007, Dunkin' Donuts' global system-wide
sales were $5.3 billion. Based in Canton, Massachusetts,
Dunkin' Donuts is a subsidiary of Dunkin' Brands, Inc.
For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.
Contact:
McCall Bodi
Communications Manager
781-737-5200
mccall.bodi@dunkinbrands.com
Dunkin' Donuts |
October 17, 2008
Press Release
